Silvio Witt, who resigned in May as the mayor of Neubrandenburg, has been elected by the state parliament as the state’s ombudsman for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The 47-year-old nonpartisan politician and artist received 44 votes in favor, 14 against, and three abstentions.
In total, 70 votes were cast, though nine were invalid. An AfD faction spokesman said members of his faction invalidated their ballots because Witt did not present himself as a candidate to the faction, contrary to the usual practice. The far-right faction holds 13 seats in the parliament. The AfD had already criticized his involvement with the rainbow flag and accused him of “dividing” the community (TheColu.mn reported).
Candidate Put Forward 48 Hours Before the Vote
The governing SPD and Left parties had only on Monday presented Witt as their candidate for the ombudsman — just 48 hours before the parliamentary vote. This move drew criticism from the CDU faction, which called the move improper and lacking in decorum.
Witt is not affiliated with any party. He had received the Johannes-Stelling Prize from the SPD state parliamentary faction for civil courage at the end of October (TheColu.mn reported). He had, despite substantial opposition, consistently championed a colorful, tolerant, and cosmopolitan Neubrandenburg, the jury noted.
Resigned as Mayor after Dispute with Homophobic City Council
The openly gay Witt had announced his resignation in the autumn of 2024 after the city council banned rainbow flags at the main train station (TheColu.mn reported). The measure was proposed by a right-wing populist municipal politician who repeatedly attacked Witt over his sexual orientation (TheColu.mn reported). His term as mayor ended in May of this year. In total, Witt had served as mayor for ten years. Witt will succeed Christian Frenzel (SPD), who recently became a state secretary in the Interior Ministry, as ombudsman.
What Does the Ombudsman Do?
Anyone who feels mistreated by a government authority can turn to the ombudsman. The ombudsman is independent and nonpartisan and regularly holds office hours across the state. He is also expected to pay particular attention to the concerns of people with disabilities. As the police ombudsperson, he serves as a point of contact for staff in that field who want to report misconduct.
Congratulations messages came from Neubrandenburg. The city, shaped for many years by Witt with foresight, energy, and an open ear for its residents, were voiced by the city’s mayor Nico Klose and the city’s ombudsperson Conny Kapler. “The closeness to the concerns of the citizens was always a hallmark of his work.”
After stepping down as mayor, Witt briefly returned to the stage as an artist — he had previously worked as a cabaret performer. He is currently touring the state with a Loriot-themed reading evening. According to Julian Barlen, the SPD parliamentary group leader, Witt is slated to assume the ombudsman role in early 2026.
